Fishing is a great way to spend time and connect with children. Only they have short attention spans and get bored easily. Here are some tips for making sure that fishing trip is all the child talks about when they get to school.

Make It a Child’s Adventure

Is this purely for fishing or a basic outdoor excursion should be determined by the child’s age? Putting a rod in the hands of a 7 or 13 year old won’t net the same results. You may need to give them a little room to wad in the water. You could keep them entertained by skipping stones, checking out frogs or floating sticks. Take a break and engage in finding insects and playing catch. Let the child bring along a friend or two. Limit the number. Too many children can be stressful on a fishing trip.

Be Prepared

If you’re experienced at fishing, you know to check tackle and to leave behind expensive property that you don’t want damaged or lost. Share the preparation with the child so they realize it’s a joint journey. Have extra caps and hats, extra layers in case it gets cool out on the water, snacks, the best hydration pack, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellant, life preservers and, of course, a good first aid kit.

If you’re not a fisherman, get advice from the local tackle shop. They’ll have tricks, tips and the best places to fish. There’s a bunch of great resources that offer info on places to fish, local resources and community events. Your state’s Fish and Game Agency will have a ton of events and ideas that can help inspire your adventure.

Some locales may require a fishing license. Others might restrict areas and time that you can fish. If the plan is to eat your catch, always fish in season, keeping size and number limits on caught species in mind.

Gear & Supplies

Keep tackle as simple as possible. Novices can have trouble mastering tackle and children are no exception. Avoid getting them frustrated before the first line is thrown. Go with spincast tackle and expect less untangling. And don’t spend too much getting the child to master tackling. It takes time and exasperating them will take away from the trip’s enjoyment. Spend a little time each day with tackle until they get a good idea.

Keeping it simple also goes for bait, bobbers and sinker rigs. These tools are more likely to attract fish. And this is more likely to happen if you stick to species that are plentiful, like sunfish and carp. Show the children the most important aspect of the trip is safety and responsibility. Follow all the guidelines that apply to your area and clean up behind yourself.

Also, you can’t go fishing without a good camping chair, kids get bored often, especially if they’re not feeling comfortable, so make sure that you have the best camping chair for your little ones.

Have Fun

Part of getting in touch with children is being able to have experiences on their level. In the long run, the size and number of fish will not matter as much as the interaction with you and enjoying the outdoors, the bonding alongside getting to know nature and the importance of respecting the environment and gaming laws. When they fall asleep that night, you will have solidified a memory that will strengthen the relationship. You will have given the child a reason to want to fish again, and more importantly, want to fish with you.